Arik Air’s new A330 enters into service on Lagos-Johannesburg route

Arik Air has introduced its new Airbus A330-200 aircraft onto its daily Lagos-Johannesburg route commencing on 23rd July.

Arik Air, Nigeria’s leading commercial airline has introduced its new Airbus A330-200 aircraft onto its daily Lagos-Johannesburg route commencing on 23rd July, replacing the Boeing B737-800 aircraft hitherto flying between the two cities.

The A330-200 is a two-engine aircraft and an environmentally-friendly product for the mid-range Lagos-Johannesburg route. It is a two class configuration providing 24 Premium Business Class seats, with an impressive 62 inch seat pitch and seat width of 21 inches, and 259 Economy Class seats with extra wide seat width of 19 inches, each with individual seat back 9 inch screens offering the very best in-flight facilities, providing guests with maximum comfort and style.

The Premium Business Class product has a complementary offering designed to meet the discerning business traveller’s needs including an angled lie flat seat, a personal 10.6 inch armrest monitor, a USB port for charging personal devices and the very latest in-flight entertainment technology installed. Arik Air also offers a complete Nigerian on-board experience with a blend of colloquial Nigerian food serving traditional dishes such as hot pepper soup as well as international cuisine.

Guests will also continue to be afforded the most generous baggage allowance in the industry – three 30kgs bags in Premier Class and two 30kgs in Economy Class.

Commenting on the A330’s introduction, Arik Air’s Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Suraj Sundaram said: “We are really pleased to be introducing the A330 onto what is an important and valued route for Arik Air. Last year we pledged our intention to provide guests with this wide bodied product – by far the most appropriate for the route - and we have delivered it. The short-term measure we secured in the form of a brand new, top-of its class Boeing 737-800 has served well in the interim, and we are confident that all of our loyal guests will agree that this much enhanced aircraft has been worth waiting for.

“We understand and have reacted to the demand in this market for a new Business and Economy Class product on this under-served route and this A330 offers everything to meet those requirements, whether they are a regular business traveller or visiting friends or relatives. Arik Air is synonymous with offering a truly unique African hospitality and world class experience, from the cuisine to the in-flight products on offer.

“We’re very excited to welcome this addition to the Arik fleet. The aircraft has passed all regulatory requirements and is in pristine condition. I am confident that it will be received as our A340-500 aircraft operating to London Heathrow and New York JFK.”

Arik Air is Nigeria’s leading commercial airline. It now operates a fleet of 26 state-of-the art regional, medium haul and long haul aircraft. The airline currently serves 22 airports across Nigeria as well as Accra (Ghana), Banjul (Gambia), Cotonou (Benin), Dakar (Senegal), Freetown (Sierra Leone), London Heathrow (UK), Johannesburg (South Africa) and New York JFK (USA).

The airline currently operates over 120 flights daily from its hubs in Lagos and Abuja.